Desk



May 26, 1925.

E. J. CARD DESK Filed Aug. 18, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 fr0/@vifs May 26, 1925. 1,539,645

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May 26, 1925-. l l 1,539,645

E. J. CARD DESK Filed Aug. 1a, i921 4 sheets-sheet 4 f frans/fyi ivi)- PafgpgedMay 26, 192s.

UNITED STATES 11.539.645 PATENT. oFFlcE.

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Application led August 18, 1921. Serial'lo. 493,808.

To all 'wlwm it, may concern.:

Be it knownthat I, EARL J CARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of,l Chautauqua.v and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to desks and particularly to metal pedestal desks of the knock-down type, consisting of a plurality of parts which may be easily knocked down so as to effect a substantial saving of space in storage and shipment, and which may be readily reassembled for use.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple and desirable desk of the typeset forth,l which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured of sheet metal; and also to provide a. desk consisting of relatively few parts and which while capable of being readily assembled and knocked down, will present in its assembled form a most rigid and sturdy structure. Further objects are to provide a knock-down desk having improved connecting and means; land to provide improvements in desks in the other respects hereinafter described a'nd set forth in the claims. In the accompanying drawingsz' Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a deskconstructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2-is a front elevation of the pedestal yoke or frame thereof. p

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of saidy frame.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the desk on an enlarged scale on line 4 4, Fig. 6, showing the connection of said frame with the pedestal.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the desk on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation thereof on lline 6 6` Fig. 1, on the same scale as Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectionalelevation of a portion thereof on line 7-7, Fig. 6. A

Fig.v 8 is a sectional detail thereof on an enlarged scale showing the connection for v the drawer locking frame.

Fig. 9 is a section thereof on line 9 9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 10-10` Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation on line 6-6, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

reinforcing Fig. 12 is a-sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the interlocking connection between the rear panels and the lrear legs or corner posts.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the locking frame for thedrawers.

Asusual in pedestal desks, the desk comprises two end pedestals A separated .by a knee space and one or vboth forming a support and housing for drawers B, or other usual parts, and a top C covering the predestals and intervening space'. The rear ends of the pedestals are connected and held in proper relation as usual by a back wall or plate. In order to tie together the separated front ends of the pedestals and their component walls and make the desk strong and rigid at its front, the pedestals are joined and braced by a yoke or connecting frame D which is preferably constructed and detachably connected with the pedestals as presently explained, so as to enable the ready assembling and disconnection of the parts of the desks.

Referring to Fig. 2y of the drawings, the preferred embodiment; of the pedestal yoke D includes one or more U-shaped bars 15 which form the upright sides and bottom of the. pedestal frame and which preferably terminate in horizontally bent ends 16. The upright sides of each frame bar are connected by transverse drawer strikebars 17, and each strike bar 17 is preferably provided with a longitudinal rib 18 on its under side and is held in proper position and secured to frame bars 15 by corner brackets 19. In the embodiment illustrated, the ribs 18 lterminate short ofthe ends of the strike bars 17, and the brackets-*'19 form end continuations of ribs18.---'I`hese brackets are welded mi or otherwise secured to the strike bars 17 and, to the frame. bars 15 and hold the strike bars rigidly and securely in place in the frame. A top frame bar 20 extends horizontally the length of the desk and is Welded or otherwise secured to the bent ends 16 .of the pedestall frame bars. This topvframe bar maintains the upper ends of the ped- .estal frame bars in'rigid and tpropel" spaced relation and forms the mam connecting 7 Each of the desk pedestals A is preferably formed by outer and inner side Walls or plates provided with integral front and rear leg or post portions, said side walls being connected at their front ends by the pedestal frames 15 and attheir rear ends by back panels hereinafter described. In th form illustrated, the side walls include side panels 22 formed with offset and substantially rectangular front legs 23 and rear legs 24 constructed by suitably shaping the plates which form the side walls. The front legs 23 are provided on their inner sides with vertically disposed grooves 25 which receive the U-shaped pedestal frame bars 15. The frame .bars 1 5 are slipped vertically down into the ooves 25 and are secured therein, prefera ly by means of bolts 26 which extend through the apertures 21 in the frame bars and correspondingly positioned apertures in the grooved portions of Athe legs 23 and are fastened by thumb nuts.

By securing the pedestal yoke in the grooves 25, a strong and rigid connection is formed by means of the readily removable thumb screws, and the frame bars of the pedestal yoke being flush with the inner faces of the legs are practically hidden from view. The front legs 23 preferably terminate at their inner edges in upright, inwardly eX- tending flanges 27. l f

A bottom plate 28 (Fig.7) which closes the bottom of each pedestal,.is preferably formed, as shown, with downwardly bent, side flanges 30 which are received in grooves in the pedestalside panels formed by bending the lower. edges of the side panels 22 inwardly and upwardly as at 31. The front edge of the bottom plate 28 is preferably bent downwardly and inwardly as at 32 to form a stift' front end for the bottom, and the rear edge of the bottom plate is bent downwardly as at 33 in the same manner as the side edges, being received in a groove formed by the inwardl and upwardly bent lower edge 34 of a bacli panel 35.

A plurality of drawer guides 36, preferably consisting of channel bars, are secured in proper spaced position in the desk with their front ends attached to the vertical flanges 27 of the legs and their rear ends attached to vertical supporting bars 37. As illustrated, these supporting bars are preferably of Z-shape in cross section, the inner flange of each bar havin the ,drawer guides attached thereto an the outer flange being welded or otherwise secured to one `of the pedestal side plates. The drawer guides are preferably secured in place by perforated ears 36al thereon which are locked in slots in the flanges 27 and bars 37 by a rod 36b extending through the perforations in the ears. The drawer guides are preferably further braced and held in proper position by one or more spaced bars 38 to which the guides are similarly attached. A,

The webs of the bars 37 are each provided with a plurality of apertures 39 which receive tongues 40 formed on a rectangular drawer-lookin frame 41. Drawer locking mechanism o any usual or suitable sort (not shown) is carried by the locking frame 41. This lockinnr framel preferably has duplicate top and bottom transverse members 42 and 43 provided with oppositely bent flanges, the lower flange of the bottom member resting upon the bottom plate of the pedestal and the upper flange of the topv member engaging and supporting the rear end of a horizontal plate 44 which supports a sliding shelf 45. The upright side members 46 of the locking frame 41 are Apreferably of angle form, the transversely extending front flanges of which carry the locking tongues 40. The locking frame is removably retained in place by interlocking its tongues in the slots of the supporting bars 38. Unintentional disengagement of the locking tongues from their slots is prevented by inserting small bolts or other suitable fastenings 46a in registering holes in the frame 41 and the supporting bars 38. These bolts are only used for preventing the disengagement of the 4locking tongues the latter being relied upon as the real sev curing means for the locking frame. .Therefore, only ya couple ofthe small bolts 46 are required and the lockinglframe can be securely fastened in place very quickly.

The desk top C rests upon the upper edges of the pedestal side plates 22 and is preferably held in place by attaching strips 48 which are welded or otherwise secured to the topand depend therefromv between and in contact with the side plates,` see Fig. 7. A similar strip 49 depends from the top in contact with the inner face of the back wall of the desk. These strips hold the upper ends of the upright walls in place and cooperate with the pedestal yoke in making the desk rigid. The top C is preferably removably secured in place by screws 49a driven through the outer pedestal walls 22 into the strips 48, 49. A depending ornamental edge flange on the top conceals the screws 49a.

The back plates or panels 35 which forni the rear walls of the pedestals are interlocked with the rear legs or corner posts on the pedestal side plates in such manner that a most rigid and strong joint is provi-ded between the parts. In the form of connection illustrated, the ends of the back plates 35 are bent back upon themselves to form double thickness tongues 50, and then inwardly at substantially a right angle -to form flanges 5l. Complementary parts of the rear legs or posts are formed with grooves 52, preferably by bending an edge of each leg inwardly, over, and outwardly to form the groove A52 and then angularly to form a flange 53 extending inwardly parallel to the ilange 51 of the back plate 35. It is preferred to form these parts so that tongues will tit snugly into the grooves 52 and hold the parts together. 54 designate small bolts connecting the flanges 51 and 53 for retaining the tongues in the grooves and cooperating with the interiitting joints in securing these parts together.

The desk is preferably rovided with one or more sliding shelves. n the embodiment illustrated, there are shown two such shelves 45, one in the upper part of each pedestal and arranged to slide beneath the desk top, and each shelf preferably comprises a plate provided with a pair ofdownwardlyy and inwardly turned side flanges 56 (Fig. 7). 57 designates rails on which the shelves slide and which are provided with downturned edges 58 under which portions of the side flanges 56 lof the shelves extend and engage, to prevent displacement of the shelves. The front edge of each shelf preferably terminates in a downwardly and inwardly bent ornamental flange 59 which also provides a hand grip for facilitating withdrawal of the shelf. A

The top plate C and ,the shelves 45 are 'preferably covered with the usual mat or pad of linoleum or other suitable covering material, held in place by means' of marginal strips 60 of metal, which embrace the downturned edge flanges of the top plate and of the shelves.

The desk is preferably provided with a centrally positioned drawer 62 between the two pedestals. As best illustrated in Figs. 7 and l0. this drawer 62 may be mounted in any usual manner'to slide on drawer guides or channels 63 suitably -supported on the vinner pedestal walls 22 beneath the top of the desk. 64 designates a housing plate-forS the central drawer enclosure, suitably secured to the inner pair of pedestal side walls by bolts or the like as at 65 This housing .plate has a vertical back 66, the endsof which are secured by attaching strips 67 to the inner pedestal walls, see Flgs. 5 and 10.

I claim as my invention: s 1. In a metal desk,.the combination of separated upright pedestals, a desk top bridging said pedestals, a pedestal connecting and/bracing yoke comprising a top bar,l

which extends from one pe'destal `to lthe other beneath said desk top and'upright.y

bars rigidly 'connected to and extending downwardly from said top bar beside said pedestals, and meansv for,securing4 said upright bars to said pedestals.

2. In a metal desk, the combination of separated `pedesta`ls each comprisin inner and outer upright sidey members, a top bridging Said pedestals, a pedestal connect'- with said side barsin said grooves.y

ing and bracing oke comprising al top bar which extends om one pedestal v to the other beneath saidA desk top, and upright frames rigidl Vsecured to and extending downwardly romsaid top bar, one frame between the side members of each pedestal, and means for securing said ramesto said pedestal side members.

3. In a metal desk, the combination of separated upright pedestals having upright grooves in their sides,a desk top bridglng said pedestals, a pedestal connecting and bracing yoke comprising a top bar which extends from one pedestal to the other .beneath said desk top and upright bars rigidly connected to and extending downwardly' from said to bar in said grooves, and means' for removab y securing said upright barsin sa1d grooves. i

4, In a metal desk, the combination of separated pedestals, cach comprising inner and outer upright' side members provided vnear their front ends with facing upright." grooves, a desk top removably secured on forming portions with upright grooves in.

their inner sides, a front pedestal frame having side bars located in said grooves, and meansfor securing said pedestal frame and said' front'legs together with said side bars in said grooves.

6. In a metal' desk, the combinatie-nota L pedestal frame having upright spaced side bars, drawer strike bars connecting said side bars, desk legs having upright grooves inA their inner sides for receiving said side bars,

and means vfor securing said pedestal frame and said legs together with said side bars in said grooves.

7. In a metal desk, the combination of a edestal frame having upright spaced'side ars, drawer strike bars .connect-ing saidside bars, pedestal side plates having hollow leg. forming portions provided 'with upright grooves in their inner sides for receivin said slide bars, and means for securing sai pedestal frame and 'said side plates together v 8`. In Aa metal desk, the combination of a gpedestal comprising a front frame having a pair of spaced side bars and strike bars connecting said side bars, side and back plates connected together and enclosing a drawer space, means connecting vsaid frame with said connected plates, drawer guides in said pedestal, and means Connecting said' wardly from said edges, and disposed opposite to and spaced from said side members, said side members having in their inner sides vertical grooves into which said tongues extend in the direction of the plane of the back member, and releasable fastenings connecting said flanges and side members and acting when tightened to draw said flanges and side members toward each other to force said tongues firmly into said grooves and rigidly but detachably connect said side and back members.

10. In a metal desk, the combination of side supporting members, means connecting said side members at their front ends, and a back plate connecting said side members, the opposite side edges of said back plate being bent upon themselves and then laterally to provide edge portions of double thickness and forwardly projecting flanges, said'side members having vertical grooves in their inner sides adapted to receive said doubled edge portions of the back plate and also having flanges opposite to and spaced from said flanges of said back plate, and detachable fastenings connecting said opposite flanges and acting when tightened to' draw said flanges towards each other `to firmly seat said edge portions m said grooves and rigidly but detachably connect said back plate and Vside members.

11. In a metal desk, the combination of separable metal Wall members, one of which members is bent to form a projecting tongue and a flange extendingat an angle from said tongue,fsaid other 'member being4 bent to form a groove adapted -to receive said tonguel and a flange disposed opposite to and spaced from said first mentionedflange, and detachable fastenings connecting said op,-

, posite flanges and acting when tightened to draw said flanges towards each other to force said tongue firmly into said. groove and rigidly but detaehably connect said wall members.

12. In combination in a metal desk, a drawer pedestal, comprising a pair of spaced vertical side members, a separable unitary4 frame which is formed with upright side bars and horizontal drawer strikes and del tachably connects said side members at their front ends,k drawer guides connected at their front ends `)to said side members, a pair of spaced vertical bars secured to said side members and connected to and supporting the rear ends of said drawer guides Within said pedestal, and ase arable unitary transverse drawer locking rame havinga releasable interlocking connection withsaid vertical bars and tying together the side members at their rear portions.

13. In combination, in a metal desk, a drawer pedestal comprising a pair of spaced vertical side members, a separable unitary rigid upright frame which has upright side bars and transverse drawer strikes and'derear portions, said drawer locking frame forming a removable support for a drawer locking mechanism.

14. In combination in a metal desk, a drawer pedestal comprising a pair of spaced vertical side members, a frame detachably .Y

connecting said side members at their front ends, a plurality of drawer guides connected at their front ends to said side members, a separable drawer locking frame arranged transversely within said pedestal, and in-` cluding a pair of upright side bars having tongues thereon, and a pair ofyspaced vertical bars secured to said side members-and to which the rear'ends of said drawer guides are attached, said vertical bars having apertures therethrough Vto of said locking frame. v 15. In a metal desk, the combination of pedestal side members having front leg forming portions withl upright grooves in -their inner sides, a front pedestal frame/ com rising a top bar and upright bars receive the tongues i rigi 1y connected to and extending downl 

